Tasmanian under-15 side gallant in defeat to Western Australia

ALL FOR ONE: Tasmania battled hard in its two-wicket loss to Western Australia on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Tasmania faces a tough ask to reach the semi-finals after a narrow defeat in its third game of the School Sports Australia under-15 national championships in Queensland.

Tuesday’s two-wicket loss to Western Australia saw the Tigers miss the chance to leapfrog ACT into second place on the Pool B ladder, with only Thursday’s match against top-of-the-table New South Wales Green to come.

The loss leaves Tasmania as one of four sides in the pool sitting at 1-2 and requiring a big win to reach the final four.

Tuesday’s game started brightly for the Tigers, with Southern pair Thomas McGann and Zac Phair (62) putting on 60 for the second wicket.

McGann chipped a return catch to depart for 32 but Phair found a new partner in round 1 century-maker Nicholas Davis, and the pair enjoyed a 75-run stand to help the Tigers reach 2-143.

But it would all come unstuck in the latter stages of the innings as the Tigers lost 8-43, including their final six wickets for only 15, to be bowled out for 186 with an over to spare.

The Tigers made a great start with the ball, with Davis collecting an LBW off the first ball of the innings and Riverside seamer James Simpson dismissing the opposition number three cheaply.

Mowbray spinner Sam Freeman took 1-37 from his 10 overs to see Western Australia reduced to 6-126, and when North-West bowler Lucas Badcock became Tasmania’s sole multiple wicket-taker the Warriors were 8-171.

But the Tigers could not break through the Warriors’ number nine and 10, who passed the total with nine balls to spare.